Content sharing system; content processing apparatus; information processing apparatus; program; recording medium; and content sharing method

Abstract

A content sharing system is disclosed that can efficiently execute copyright management for limiting illegal utilization of content, and can promote the degree of freedom in utilization of content within a legal range of private utilization. In the content sharing system, a content processing apparatus on the content providing side includes a source ID addition section for adding, to the content data, a source ID for specifying a providing source of content data. Meanwhile, another content processing apparatus on the content acquiring side includes a content rendering section having a rendering permission ID list including source IDs, added to content data whose rendering is permitted, for limiting, based on the source ID added to the acquired content data and the rendering permission ID list, rendering of acquired content data rendering. The content sharing system further includes a list management section for permitting updating of the rendering permission ID list.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a content sharing system wherein content data are shared between a plurality of content processing apparatuses. [0002] Different from conventional analog content, digital content of music and so forth can be copied multiple times without suffering from any quality deterioration. Therefore, in recent years, with the progress of the popularization of the Internet and the increase in speed of operation and capacity of personal computers, illegal distribution, exchange, and so forth of content without its copyright owner's permission is increasing. [0003] In order to prevent such illegal actions, a copyright management system, which utilizes a DRM (Digital Rights Management) technique that places limitations on the distribution and utilization of content, is being popularized. In a copyright management system of the type described, usually the number of copies of original content items is managed strictly to limit illegal copy...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a content sharing system that can efficiently execute copyright management for limiting illegal utilization of contents, and can promote the degree of freedom in utilization of contents within a legal range of private utilization.

[0020] In summary, in accordance with the present invention, sharing of content data can be managed in a measurement of a providing source of content data. Therefore, copyright management for limiting illegal utilization of content can be executed efficiently. Further, within a range of legal private utilization, the degree of freedom in utilization of content can be increased.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, in recent years, with the progress of the popularization of the Internet and the increase in speed of operation and capacity of personal computers, illegal distribution, exchange, and so forth of content without its copyright owner's permission is increasing.

Therefore, the performance of the content user's apparatus, the form of interconnection of a plurality of apparatuses, and so forth, are restricted.

Besides, a copyright management process must be executed every time copying of content is performed, which is inefficient.

Accordingly, the degree of content utilization freedom is low, and to a legal user of content (that is, to a person who pays a reasonable consideration to a content producing person and utilizes the content within a range of private use) the copyright management system design freedom is low and is inconvenient, particularly in a case where content is shared between a plurality of apparatuses.

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